Mr. GROESBECK:—I am willing to amend Section 4 of the substitute I offer, by denying to Congress the power to abolish the relation without making compensation, and the section may be thus considered.
Mr. DODGE:—I wish to support the proposition of Mr. Groesbeck; and let me say one thing farther: our words should be plain and simple; we should use language which common men can understand, and which does not require to be construed by lawyers. Above all, let us have some confidence in each other.
Mr. BARRINGER:—There is another entire and important omission in Mr. Groesbeck's proposition: there is no provision whatever for the Territories.
Mr. DENT:—I think the Conference had much better adhere to the section reported by the committee as it has been already amended. We have all read and studied that section. We understand it. A State that will not adopt the whole of the section will not adopt any part of it, and so there is no use in severing the subjects provided for. I am opposed to the adoption of the substitute. We understand the original article better than we can any other.
Mr. WILMOT:—I think the original proposition the best; the word "regulate" has been struck out of it, leaving only the words "impair or abolish."
Mr. McCURDY:—I ask leave to revive my motion. I regret having withdrawn it. I think I have the right to renew it now.
The PRESIDENT (Mr. Alexander in the chair):—The motion of the gentleman from Connecticut is out of order.
Mr. CRISFIELD:—I understand we are now considering the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Groesbeck). If so, I move to insert in his proposition after the word "abolish" the words "or impair."
Mr. GROESBECK:—I think the amendment improves it. I will accept it.
Mr. CHASE:—There is, certainly, a misunderstanding as to the effect of the vote laying the amendment offered by Mr. Hitchcock upon the table: it was offered as a substitute to the third section; if it did not carry the whole section to the table, then motions to amend that section are in order. In that view, I think Mr. McCurdy's motion is in order either way: to amend the article proposed by the committee, or to amend the amendment of Mr. Groesbeck.